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@eine tsta @anni @Hita RUF=Us Lari-MM, or NEW Yoan, N. Y. Letters PatentNo. 71,766, dated December 3. lS-GY.

INKSTAND.

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TO ALL WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that, I, RUFUS LAPHAM, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain Improvements in Inkstands; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in applying to an inkstand a sponge,or any other suitable absorbing substance, which, being compressedby'means of a screw or otherwise, shall discharge the ink as desired,and reabs'orb it on thc pressure being released. l

The accompanying drawing represents an inkstand with improvements, Sbeing the sponge, resting upon the bottom of the stand; d, a cap orplate, working upon said sponge; c, a cover attached to thc main vesselby means of screw at g g; a, a screw passing through said cover, uponthe cap or plato d; l l, lips into which 'the ink is compressed for use,through a hole leading into the vessei at e e. Now, by turning vthescrew a downward, the sponge becomes compressed, and the ink is throwninto the lips as wanted, which also returns again by the absorbingprinciple of the sponge when the screw is turned upward. u

The utility of this improvement in inkstands is readilyseen. First, itltcrs the ink; second, the inkstand becomes portable, although entirelyopen; third, the ink is held by theieven pressure at any desiredaltitude in the lips, and never rises or falls in any considerabledegree by change of tempera`ture,.the fatal objection to many otherkinds oi' stands, and being alwhys at the saine altitude, the pen willtake up an cvcn quantity of ink at every immersion, thereby preventingthe frequent blots which appear in writing.A

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is' An inkstand,made substantially as described. y l

^ RUF US LAPIIAM.

Witnesses:

AUG. MERKEL, R. P. WILsoN.

